Air-valve for radiators.



P. W. LEUTHESSER, AIR VALVE FOR RADIATORS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1912.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

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lJNITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

FRED W. LEUTHESSER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AIR-VALVE FOR RADIATORS.

Application filed January 15, 1912.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, FRED W. LnUTi-inssnn, a citizen or the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State o1Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAir-Valves for Radiators, of which the following is a specification. 7

The present invention relates to the construction and arrangement of anelement or mechanism usually termed a heat controller, which is attachedto the top of the air valve.

The objects of the present invention are to arrange the vent openinggoverned by the heat controller so that the medium escaping through saidvent opening will always be directed away from the wall, eliminating thedanger of the decoration of the wall being marred by the ejection ofsubstance there-against.

A further object of the invention is to arrange the heat controllingmechanism so that the use of all packing is eliminated, and to utilize aheat controlling mechanism which may be of a relatively small nature,where by its removal for the purpose of adjusting the air valvemechanism is simple and easy.

The invention further consists in the tea tures of construction and inthe combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of an air valve providedwiththe heat controlling mechanism of the presentinvention; Fig. 2, adetail, partly in section, of the upper end of an air valve equippedwith the heat controlling mechanism of the present invention; and Fig.3, a section on line 3--8 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of thearrow, with the plug or controlling member of the heat controllingmechanism removed.

In the art of steam heating, it is a well known fact that the amount ofsteam entering the radiator will only be in proportion to the amount ofcold air which has escaped from the radiator, steam being of such anature that it will not displace cold air. In low pressure heatingsystems, a device known as a heat controlling element or mechanism isemployed in connection with the air valve, to permit of the escape ofcold air from the radiator. By theuse of this heat controller, only asmany of the coils need be heated as desired. For instance, it theradiator in a room consists of ten loops,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31,1912.

Serial No. 671,269. I

on a cold day it would be necessary to heat the entire radiator to getthe temperature desired; but in mild weather only a portion of the heatwould be necessary. Therefore, by using the heat controller, the coldair can be allowed to escape until, say, three loops of the radiatorhave become heated, after which the escapement of air can be cut oilwith the result that the remaining seven loops of the radiator remaincold. Thus,

only a partial heating of the radiator is of tected, resulting in asaving in steam and in a proper regulating of the temperature of theroom.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the device is employedin connection with a shell or casing l, adapted to contain and inclosesuitable air valve mechanisms. The shell comprises a base 5 and a hollowneck 6 ofthe usual style. The upper portion of the opening 7 in theinterior of the neck 6 is cut away as indicated by the numeral 8 (Fig.2), and into this cutaway portion extends a screw-threaded plug 9, whichterminates in a beveled port1on'10 resting against shoulders 11 formedby the enlarging of the upper end of the opening in the neck 6. Theshoulder 11 virtually forms a valve seat for the tapered portion 10 ofthe plug, which tapered portion may be termed a valve member.

Located above the shoulders 11 is an open ing 12 extending through thewall of the neck 6 and communicating with the outside air. Secured tothe plug is a hand piece 13 of any suitable size and configuration.

As will be seen from the drawings, the ordinary adjusting member 1a torthe air valve mechanism lies just below the lower end of the plug 9,when this plug is advanced into position to seat against the shoulders11. When it is desired to permit the escapement of air-from theradiator, the hand wheel or member 13 is rotated to unseat the beveledend 10 from the shoulder 11.. The air will then escape from the radiatorthrough the opening 12. of the air has escaped, the plug 9 can be againadvanced to seating position, thus cutting o-fi the escapement of airthrough the opening 12, with the result of effecting a partial heatingof the radiator, as heretotore described. The opening 12, through whichthe air or air and steam coming from the radiator escapes from thevalve, is formed in the neck 6. This neck, of course,

' Where the adjustment [eliminate the use of is stationary, and byarranging the valve so that the opening faces the radiator, the steam orother substance coming out of said opening will be thrown against theradiator, where it will do no damage.

In the old style of heat-controllers, the opening is turned inuniformity with the turning of the hand wheel, with the result that thisopening would frequently get turned toward the wall and steam or othermatter ejected through said opening would be thrown against the wall, inmany instances materially injuring the decoration. Moreover, in the oldstyle of heat control lers, a relatively long screw-threaded sleeve wasemployed, which was fitted on the outside of the neck; and when itbecame necessary to remove this sleeve for the purpose of adjusting theair valve mechanisms, con siderable time was necessarily expended ingiving to the sleeve the required number of turns to remove it from theupper end of the radiator.

With the arrangement of mechanism of the present invention, a relativelyshort plug may be utilized, so that only a few turns are necessary toremove valves is necessary, this is an exceedingly important point,owing to the obvious saving in time. By configuring the end of the plug9 to form a valve face, I am able to lead washers or other packinginstrumentalities, such as are necessarily employed with the old styleof heating controllers.

I claim:

'1. In a device combination of a and contain automatic air valvemechanism, a hollow neck rigidly attached to the top of said casing,adjustable valve-seat mechanism in said neck, said neck being of a sizeof the class described, the

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

it from position. I of several hundred casing adapted to inclosetoaccommodate the tool for adjusting said valve-seat, an imperforate plugscrewthreaded into the open upper end of said neck, and forming aclosurefor said end, a seating face for the lower end of said pluglocated on the interior of said neck and above said valve-seat adjustingmechanism, the wall of said neck being provided with an air vent openingextending transversely therethrough, said opening being located abovesaid seating face, said plug constituting a valve member forming thesole means of controlling the passage of air through said vent,substantially'as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casingadapted to inclose and contain automatic air valve mechanism, a hollowneck rigidly attached to the top of said casing, adjustable valve-seatmechanism in said neck, said neck being of a size to accommodate a toolfor adjusting said valve-seat, said neck being of increased diameter atits upper end, producing a shoulder within the interior of said neckabove said valve-seat adjusting mechanism, a screw-threaded imperforateplug entered into the open upper end of said neck and forming a closurefor said open end, the lower end of said plug seating against saidshoulder and remaining at all times above said valve-seat adjustingmechanism, the wall of said neck beingv provided with an air ventopening extending transversely therethroug said opening being locatedabove said shoulder, and said plug forming the sole means for regulatingair through said vent, substantially as described.

FRED w. LEUTHESSER.

WVitnesses: 7M. P. BOND,

MARY R. Fnosr.

addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

